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Disabled Dad's Mission to Stand to Say His Wedding Vows

A young father-of-three who lost his leg and was left in a coma for five weeks after being hit by a speeding driver says he’s determined to stand again to say his wedding vows.

David Tasker didn’t even recognise his fiancé or his own children when he finally regained consciousness after the horror smash, which caused a bleed on the brain and left him needing his left leg amputated above the knee.

The 28-year-old, who was told he would have died had he not been rushed to hospital, also lost the use of his left arm and has been left virtually housebound, unable to look after or play with his kids.

But the former DJ, from Barnsley, says he is determined to build his strength so he can stand while he says his wedding vows to partner Samantha Pattison in October.

He said: “I really want to be able to stand to say my vows at least. I’ll have to stand on one leg and my best man will help me balance. I know I won’t be the same man that I was before but it will be nice to feel like a normal person just for that moment.”

David was on holiday in Skegness with 21-year-old Samantha and friends in August last year when he was knocked down while walking home from a night out.

The next thing he remembers is waking from a coma in intensive care.

He said: “I lost my leg and my left arm doesn’t really work. All my insides had been knocked to one side and obviously I can’t stand up. I didn’t even know I had kids or a partner when I came round.

“I’ve been having physiotherapy to try and stand back up and I go to the gym every day to exercise my muscles but it’s been really hard.”

David, who DJ’d all over the country and abroad, met Samantha five years ago, proposing after a whirlwind romance of just two months.

“It was just one of those things – we clicked straight away” he said.

“It’s been a really difficult time.

“I was a DJ before – I worked across the country and did gigs in Spain and Greece but I can’t do that anymore as the majority of DJ booths aren’t accessible to wheelchair users. I was into all different types of sports as well including martial arts and skiing. One of the things I always wanted to do with the kids was play football but that’s now impossible. My kids keep saying I’m broken and it’s upsetting.”

Samantha told how, following the accident, she couldn’t bring herself to tell their children what had happened to their dad.

She said: “When David woke up, he said he didn't know me or that he had children. He had no idea where he was or where we lived.

“He says he doesn't know why I stayed with him but I love him. I was heartbroken when he had his accident and it is still very hard for me now. Planning the wedding is helping us a lot though. He means the world to me and the kids.”

Steve Hill, a personal injury lawyer from Slater and Gordon, who is representing David in a civil case, added: “David is one of the bravest people I have ever met and, with additional support, I believe he could achieve so much more, which would make a huge difference to his life as well as his family.

“Unfortunately, the defendant’s insurance company has so far refused to fund any form of rehabilitation in this case, even though it is desperately required.”

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